Fireproof flooring.



No. 659,966. Patented 00L I6, |900. L. G. HALLBEBG. FIREPHUF FLDRING.

(Applicatio'n med Mar. 2e, 189e.)

(N0 Model.)

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LAWRENCE GUSTAV HALLBERG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FIREPROOF FLOORING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 659,966, dated October16, 1900.

Application filed March 26,1896. Serial No. 585,026. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE GUsrAv HALLBERG, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inFireproof Flooring, which is fully set forth in the followingspecification, reference being had to the ac companying drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 is a plan view of the skeleton of a portion of aflooring constructed according to one method in which my invention maybe carried out. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of a flooringconstructed according to another method in which my invention may becarried out. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing the attachmentof a beam suspension-rod to a wall. Fig. et is an end elevation of aWall-anchor for such an attachment. Fig. 5 is a vertical section on theline 5 5 of Fig. 4E. Fig. 6 is a Vertical sectional view showing theattachment of a beam suspension-rod to a girder. Fig. 7 is a verticalsectional View showing the attachment of the girder suspension-rods to acolumn. Fig. 8 is a plan view of such an attachment on the line S 8 ofFig. 7. Fig. 9 is a plan View of the construction shown in skeleton inFig. 1 iilled in. Fig. 10 is a vertical section on the line 10 10 ofFig. 9. Fig. 1l is a vertical section. on the line 11 11 of Fig. 9. Fig.12 is a vertical sectional view showing the attachment of beamsuspension -rods to columns according to the method of constructionshown in Fig. 2. Fig. 13 is a plan view of such attachment on the line13 13 of Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a vertical cross-section on the line la 14of Fig. 12. Fig. 15 is a vertical section on the line 15 15 of Fig. 2.

It is the object of my invention to construct a iireproof tile flooringrequiring the use of few or no steel beams, thereby cheapening theconstruction and rendering possible the application of reproof flooringto many structures to which the cost has hitherto made it inapplicable.I obtain this result by supporting my floor upon a system of saggedsuspension-rods in place of the usual girders or beams, the saidsuspension-rods being anchored at their ends to the walls of thebuilding, to columns, or to other suitable carryingsupports. Thesesuspensionrods are the fundamental elements in this construction andperform the weight-carrying functions of the ordinary beams or girders.Surrounding these suspension-rods I form a body of concrete or othercementitious material, from which the filling-in material may be moreconveniently supported than from the suspension-rods themselves.Moreover, downward pressure upon such concrete bodies produces anoutward thrust, which counterbalances and is counterbalanced by theinward tension of the suspension-rods and relieves the carrying-supportsfrom any other than a vertical strain.

I am aware that it has already been proposed to make a compound beam orgirder consisting of a concrete body, in the bottom of which, below theneutral line, is disposed a tension strip or rod adapted to give to thatpart of the beam which is subject to tensile strain that quality inwhich concrete is defective-namely, resistance to tensile strain. In allof these constructions, so far as I am aware, the tension strip or rodis not anchored to any carrying-support, but is anchored either at theends or at intermediate points of the concrete beam, which is merely forthe purpose of preventing slipping. Not only for this reason is suchtension `strip or rod not adapted to carry any weight, but, further,such tension-strip being usually horizontally disposed would bemechanically incapable of carrying weight.

My construction is radically different in that the suspension-rods arethe fundamental elements in this construction. They are sagged or bentdownward out of a straight line, their ends are anchored, as in allsuspension structures, to weight-carrying supports, and thesesuspension-rods actually carry the weight of the flooring. The concretein which these rods are embedded performs two functions, which are bothsubsidiary. The iirst is that of holding apart by its lateral thrustunder a weight the supports to which the suspension-rods are secured, soas to counteract the pull of the said suspension-rods upon theirsupports. The second is to give a surface or body to which the illing-indoor material may be secured.

Although in my construction the concrete bodies and the suspension rodsdo not form ICO compound beams or girders in the sense in which theprior constructions referred to do, nevertheless, for convenience ofdescription, I shall refer to such combinations of the concrete body andthe suspension-rod as a beam or girder, as the case may be.

My invention as above outlined I have shown and shall describe ascarried out according to two principal alternative forms. In the firstof these forms, which I shall des= ignate as the rectangular form, thegirders are arranged parallel to each other and the walls of thebuilding and the beams are disposed transversely thereto. In the secondof these forms, which I shall designate' as the radial form, the beamsradiate out from the supportingcolumns to the columns directly anddiagonally opposite and to the Walls of the building. I shall describefirst the rectangular form. (Illustrated principally in Figs. 1 to 11,inclusive.)

Referring to the drawings by letter, A designates the wallsA of abuilding; B, the main girders; C, columns supporting the same, and Dsuspension-rods, shown in Fig. 1 as secured at one end with the girderB, and at the other end by the anchors E to the wall of the building. Iform the girder B by securing one or more suspension-rods B at theiropposite ends to the collars C', carried by the column C or anchors B2in the wall, or both, according to the position of the girder and thebuilding. The suspension-rods B are allowed to take a natural curvedownward toward the center of their span. The depth of this curve can bevaried at will. Itis of the character mechanically known as the catenarycurve, adapted to support a uniform load along its length. Each column Cis provided with a pair of brackets C2. I now fill in about thesuspension-rods B the body B3 of the girder, using a suitable mold, sothat the girder is skewback in cross -section, as seen in Fig. 6. In theupper surface of the girder I partially embed the anchor-strip B4,preferably a T-bar, which serves for the attachment of the ends ot' thesuspension-rods D, which are hooked over the flanges of the T-bar, as atd, or secured thereto in any other convenient manner. The anchors E, towhich the remaining ends ot the suspension-rods D may be attached orwhich serve similarly to anchor the ends of the suspension-rods B to theWalls, are embedded in the said walls, as shown in Fig. 3. Each anchormay preferably consist of a single casting, which comprises two verticalpieces E, each provided with a iiange e and connected by the crosspieceE2 and the horizontal piece E2. The suspension-rods are hooked over thepin e', which bears against the Iianges e. Any other form o'f anchor maybe employed for the same purpose. The concrete body D of the beam D2 maybe formed about each suspension-rod or pair of rods D in the same way asthe similar bodies are formed about the girder suspension-rods B, andthe intervals between the beams so formed may be Iilled/ in in any oneof several ways. In the drawings, particularly in Figs. 9, 10, and 1l, Ihave shown such filling to consist of iiat-arch tile arched in twodirections. Between the adjacent beams D2, I have shown three rows ofsuch tile, the center tile F being the key-tile, the flat-arch tile F'being disposed on each side thereof and supported by the skewback beamsD2. It is obvious that a greater number of such rows of tile may bedisposed between the adjacent beams D2. The said tile are archedlongitudinally, as shown in Fig. 10, as well as transversely, as shownin Fig. 1l. It is further obvious that the fiat arch in this directionmay include any desired number of tile.

I shall now describe the second general method of construction, which Ihave designated as the radial type. According to this system thesuspension-rods of the beams are directly supported from columnsinstead' of from girders, which themselves rest upon columns. Each ofthe columns L is provided with a circular or polygonal bracket L', whichgives a skewback bearing for the concrete body M of the beams h formedupon the suspension-rods M2. The ends of the said suspension-rods arehooked about a collar L2, carriedvby the column L, or are in any othersuitable way secured to the said column. I do not herein claim this formofsupport for the said suspension-rods specifically, since the same hasbeen described and claimed in another pending application, Serial No.581,902. The floor-space is thus divided up into triangular spaces,which said triangular spaces may be still further divided up, ifdesired. In these spaces so formed I iill in, preferably with flat-archtile N, arched in two directions, as already described with reference tothe tile F and F.

In Figs. 12, 14, and 15, particularly in Fig. 14, I show a datprotecting-tile O secured beneath the beam M' and adapted to protect thesame from excessive heat.

Having so described one or more specific methods in which my inventionmay be carried out, I do not limit my invention to any of the precisestructures so shown or described.

Broadly stated, my invention consists of a system of saggedsuspension-rods anchored at their ends to suitable carrying-supports,these suspension-rods supporting and being embedded in cementitionsmaterial, forming a body about each rod or pair of rods, and suitableiiooring materiaheither tile,as vshown and described, or otherequivalent construction, lling in between the concrete bodies aforesaid.

able carrying-supports, of sagged suspensionrods having their endssecured to said supports, cementitious material filled in about saidsuspension-rods to form a concrete girder carried thereby,and suitableflooring material filling in between the said concrete girders.

2. In a ooring, the combination with suitable carrying-supports, ofsagged suspensionrods having their ends anchored to said supports,cementitious material filled in about said suspension-rods to formaconcrete girder carried thereby, said girder being formed skewbaek incrosslsection, and flat-arched tile keyed to and supported betweenconcrete girders so formed.

3. In a flooring, the combination with suitable carrying-supports, ofsagged suspension# rods anchored to said supports, cementitious materialfilled in about said suspension-rods to form a concrete girder carriedthereby, an anchor-strip partially embedded in said concrete girder,suspension-rods secured at one end to said anchor-strip and having theirother ends suitably supported, and flooring material held in position bysaid suspensionrods and concrete girders, substantially as described.

4. In a flooring, the combination with suitable carryingsupports, ofsagged suspensionrods anchored to said supports to form a concretegirder, an anchor-strip partially embedded in said concrete girder abovethe said suspension-rods, a series of similar suspension -rods D, eachhaving one end looped over the edge of said anchor-strip, and theiropposite ends suitably supported, and cementitious material filled inand about said latter-named suspension-rods to form a flooring.

5. The suspension-rod anchor comprising the vertical piecesE',strengtheninghanges e, cross'piece E2, and the horizontal piece E3,substantially as shown and described.

0. In a flooring, the column L; the skewback bracket L'; thesuspension-rods M2 anchored to the column; the concrete body Msurrounding the said suspension-rod M2 and bearing against the skewbackbracket L g and suitable filling material filling in between the beamsso formed.

7. In a flooring, the stationary suspensionrod anchor comprising thevert-ical pieces E', havinglateral strengthening-flanges e, pin c',cross-piece E2, and `forWardly-extending horizontal piece E3, incombination With the suspension-rod B,having its end hooked over thesaid pin e', substantially as described.

8. In a flooring, the column C, the skewback bracket O2, thesuspension-rods B', anchored to the column, the concrete body B3,surrounding the said suspension-rods and bearing against the saidskewback bracket C2, and suitable lling material filling in the spacebetween the beams so formed.

9. In a iiooring, the columns C, having skewback brackets C2 securedthereto, suspension-rods B anchored to the columns, and the concretebody B3 surrounding the said suspension rods and bearing against theskewback brackets to form a concrete grder, an anchor-strip B4 partiallyembedded inthe said concrete girder above the rods B', suspension-rodsD, having their ends attached to the said anchor-strips and to otheranchors in the Wall or adjacent girder, and a suitable filling material,filling in the space between the beams so formed.

L. GUSTAV I-IALLBERG.

Vitnesses:

HENRY GORDON STRONG, A. A. MURRAY.

